Phonograph needle



Sept. 14 1926.

A. F. WILLAT PHONOGRAPH NEEDLE Filed June 12, 1922 F/El' FIE .7

IIVVE'IVTLL?v A. F- WILLAT A 'YS.

Patented. Sept. 14, 1926.

; UNITED STATES- ARNOLDF. WILLAT, OF SAN RAFAEL, CALIFORNIA.

PHONOGRAPH NEEDLE.

' Application filed June 12, 1922. Serial 1%. 587,823.

This invention relates to improvements in phonographs needles of the type embody ng in their construction extensible stylus wires or renewable pla ing points. A I

The primary ject of this invent on Is to provide a, relative y small, inexpensive, and reliable needle of the character described,

' which is adapted to fit the needle holder of an ordinary phonograph after the fashion of the ordinary steel needle; which is provided with a relatively long stylus wire arranged in a novel manner upon the needle body so that one end of the wire projects below the body of the needle for enga ement with the sound grooves of a recor and which is provided with means for supporting said wire and for extendin it, said body, wire, and means being of suc construction and relative arrangement that a clear, sound reproduction, free from objectionable noises is produced, and also so that .the needle is not likely to become deranged or broken and may be played a great many, as, for example, 10,000 times.

An object of the invention is to provide a needle of the character described, which is constructed so that the wire, after being ex tended, cannot be withdrawn, this being rovided by arrangement of the exten ing means which operates to move the wire when moved in one direction only.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the needle of this invention.

Figure 2 is a rear elevation broken away and partly in section.

Figure 3 is an enlarged top plan view of a detail of the invention.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of the needle body, illustrated in detail showing theconstruction thereof providing for reception of the stylus needle.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken through the needle body show-- ing the arrangement and construction thereof prior to assembling the needle.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 66 of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is an end view of the needle.

Figure 8 is a art elevation of a modified form of the nee le.

Figure 9 is an end view of a detail of the form of the invention shown in Figure 8.

Referring particularly to the drawings, the present embodiment of the invention illus trated therein comprises a needle 1, the upper portion 2 of which is angularl offset and adapted to be inserted in the need e holder of a phonograph, not shown, whereas the lowerdportion 3 is bent back upon itself and provi es the bent back portion 4. The bent back portion 4 is provided with a transverse recess or notch 5 intermediate of its ends in its inner side in which recess or notch a short cylindrical shaft 6 is mounted, said shaft having bearing engagement with the o posite face of the portion 3 of the body of tlie needle and pro ecting outwardl to one side of the body at right angles t ereto. On the outer end of the shaft 6, an operating handle, preferably in the form of a star wheel 7, is mounted; A length of relatively fine wire suitable as a stylus wire, formed in a helical coil 8, is incorporated with the body, said coil-being mounted upon the shaft 6 so as to surround the shaft and so that one side engages the shaft, as shown in Figure 6. One end of the coil bears against the handle 7. The wire of the coil is extended through an upwardly o enin'g vertical slot 9 formed in the free en of the bent back portion 4 and said wire is then directed downwardly in an are so as to extend between the shaft 6 and the portion 3, there being provided a serrated circumferential groove 10 in the shaft, through which 7 roove said wire extends. The wire extends elow the shaft in engagement with the bent back portion 4. and the portion 3 and passes through a slot 11 formed by making a vertical saw cut in the joined ends of the portions 3 and 4 of the body.

In constructing the needle body, to adapt it for reception of the stylus wire, first, a portion of the bodyis bent back as described, until the body and bent back portions assume the relative positions shown in Figure 5. Next, the verticalsaw cut or slot 11 is made in the lower end of the body so as to extend an equal distance into the portions 3 and 4. This saw cut is exceptionally fine, being nothing more than a slit. The slot 9 is next formed by a similar saw cut. The recess or notch 5 is then formed in the bent back portion or may be out before the bending back of said portion, With the body thus formed, a lenght of wire is passed through the slot 11 so as to project beyond the lower end of the body and the portions 3 and 4 are then pressed tightly together so as to assume the position shown in Figures 1,

2, 4 and 7 By applying considerable pressure to these opposed parts, namely, the parts 3 and at of the body and to Opposed sides of the slot 11, the slot is practically closed, except where the wire extends therethrough and the space between the portions 3 and 4 beneath the recess or notch 5 is practicall closed except where the wire extends therebetween. The wire is then withdrawn and as this wire is relatively hard, it, after a fashion, molds or cuts a guide-way or groove therefor between the parts of the needle body which are pressed tightly together. The coil of wire is then mounted upon the shaft 6 after the shaft has been inserted in place and a part of the wire of the coil is extended in a downwardly curving are through the slot 9 and between the portions 3 and 4 as described. This wire is further extended so that one end thereof projects through the slot 11 and beyond the lower end of the body a short distance, as shown in the drawings. By turning the handle 7 in a clock-wise direction, the shaft 6 is turned and by reason of the wire en aging in the serrated grove 10 in said sha t, said wire is advanced so as to project beyond the lower end of the needle body. I have provided the slot 11 instead of a small opening and thereby am permitted to use an exceptionally thin wire and support in a rigid manner but so as to be able'to extend the wire with ease. In the use of an opening, much difliculty is experienced in providing one small enough and which will give adequate support to the wire extending therethrough.

There is provided clutch means for preventing counter-clock-wise rotation of the shaft from withdrawing the wire. This means embodies a helical spring 12 wrapped tightly around the shaft so as to closely and frictiona-lly engage the same. One end' of this coiled spring is fastened, as at 13, in the handle or wheel 7 in such manner that in turning the wheel in a clock-wise direction, the spring has a tendency to tighten and grip upon the shaft and by such frictional engagement to cause the shaft to rotate. By turning the wheel in a counter-clock-wise direction, the spring 12 is caused to unwind and loosen relative to the shaft to such an extent that it turns upon the shaft with the wheel and without imparting rotary movement to the shaft.

In Figures 8 and 9 the modified form of being so fitted in the body that the open side of the slit faces downwardly or better, rearwardly. Thus as the weight of the sound box, etc., are brought on the projecting end of the wire, the Wire is forced into the V- shaped slit and is ripped or wedged securely therein so that tie projecting part thereof is held rigidly. This eliminates unnecessar vibration and objectionable noises whic follow. This form of-the invention does not require as much skill in the manufacture thereof and the plug fitting and other assembling can be more easily carried out than the provision of the small wire holes in the sides of the saw cut as in the end of the body of the preferred form of the invention.

, I claim 1-- 1-. A phonograph needle comprising a body portion having one end bent back upon itself, said body portion being slotted transversely through the juncture of the body and bent back portion, a stylus wire extended between the body and bent back por- I tion and through said slotted portion, and means for moving said wire through said slot-ted portion.

2. A phonograph needle comprising a body portion having one end bent back upon itself, said body portion being provided with a slot extending transversely therethrough at the juncture of the body and bent back portion, said slot opening at the lower end and certain opposite sides of the needle, a stylus wire extended between the body and bent back portion and through said sl0t,and means for moving said wire through said slot, said bent back portion having a slot open at its free end and which receives said wire.

3. A phonograph needle embodying in its construction a body portion having an opening therein and provided with an offset up per terminal adapted to be fitted into the needle holder of an ordinary phonograph, a stylus wire movable through the open ng in said body portion and means associated with the wire and body portion for advancing said wire through said opening.

4. A phonograph needle embodying in its .construction a body portion adapted to have its upper end fitted in the needle holder of an ordinary phonograph and bent back upon itself at its lower end, the bent back portion being slitted transversely at the lower extremity and on opposite sides thereof, a stylus wire extending through said slit and means associated with the body portion and stylus wire for moving the wire relative to the body portion.

ARNOLD F. WILLAT. 

